The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-05
cOrT0H ELRES

Tho New York Chronicle, Of the lsi
inst, dovotes some space TO the cotton
fires at this and other points in the south
and southwest and for cause and effect
falls back upon the interviews with cotton
warchousemen, which il published some
eighteen months ago. IL scouts the theory
of spontaneous combustion because the
testimony Of warchouscmen was against
Il, just as II a warchouscman was com.
peient TO give a decision upon n qucs-
ton tia, has never yet been delivered
10 an expert for scientific investigation.
As to electricity, which TnE ArrEAL sug.
eesied rs a probable cause Of the iirc at
the Navy Yard Compress, /, treats Il as a
novel theory, worthy Of passing considcm.
ton. NOT does Il indonc Tn Arm ~ =
other suggestion for q scientific inquiry,
such as Was invited in Minneapolis in the
case Of the ilour-mills. II Is satisfied with
the testimony Of the waphouscmen that
thc principal causes 81 fire are
Carlcs smoking. luise MATCHES. lnorulllrism.
locomotive sparlt. sparks frum sicam iusts. spafls
irim ohlmnuys and the oafclcssncss Of owner. IN
allowing osi,n ON their prrmiscs uau-rd The ,rcat
eat number Of nry~L scvcrl cotton Wafrhouacfnrn
testified that they had had personal cxpfflcucc Ia
cotton ars, aud cited oi their ovn knjuicigc in
sianc- In which pafipr MATCHES, cigar stubs and
inornilaHfm au,oi arcs. Matches. Ia one
oasc. VEN izniiei by heing run over J.,
uu,k, IN smother case ny being stepped
urnn ny a mau, aud In stili nnuthcr raa
by rrlug struck ~ sampler while In the intrflai
Of a ialc Tue match hafnri. thcuiorc. doc, moi
secm 10 have bccn oycrstlmatci ~ nrc under
wfiier and tno strict MEASURES cannot D. adopted
10 rrduoc the danger frpm this unnecessary spurrr
one correspondent rrirrci 10 the mi.iaks rrurtaIIy
made When q serious hfr happens Of ifJinr 90 rS
unEulsh u lnsicid ~ using al possible expedition
in rcmo,inE Contiguous bales
That correspondent ought to have been
here at the Compress fire. lie would have
realized that there arc contingencies thai
even gpat gcniu-cs can no, provide ior
lie would have been quickly convinced
tim, Il would bc ne easy 10 spin silk in shco
ut white heat "a 10 have snalchcd hal,
from the burning thousands. but. comm,
back to or mutton, the Chronicle, s,il
clinrng 10 the warchouscmcn. quote,
thcmas iayoring the following plan ior pre-
venting and cxtinguishing cotton 6rcs
o. Substantial construction and ,irllant watch
inlne'' II the prcmscs. and U In favor Of plcniy q
water with which Ia combat the aamrs Steam
was SPOKEN u hy one 81 more Correspondents A.
superior 10 water fnr csuuu hing nns In ,o,ton
Automatic sprinkler IN warehouse, VEN sdy,
Gated. o. Wa also water soaked Iafuiur onntspti,
tots Kept In handy barrels iof usc I'D mf1wiri
over hari that may D. discovered 10 ~ on ntc n
rvgaid 10 The rrsciloabIliiy Of ndnptlus h. In
nammahe covering Zoe hsirs Than hcmp or Iut
haggug The testimony differed Nany consider,
data substitute iof the harrinr nov usod istn
pactrable The trsslbC substitutes named hi
othcn scrc cotton cloth covered with some fr
proof composition sheet ifnn heavy hnflar bsrrIu
aud cotton canyas n was mscrcd also ha
smaller tales would D. les dam rrous The tost
nony wa quite pronounced that whatever ~
covering the entlru hale should bc Wrapped N
testimony Wa strong sriiust tho pnrtice 4,
sinpling on cumpfess platforms. and the danger q
tbs custom ws admitted The iciltnouy NJ ~
Naichouscmen alto affirmed the prnctioabillly
inclosing compU~ platforms
Well, The ccnprcsses Of Memphis mr.
inoloscd, and there smoothing like pamplin
permitted on their platforms water an